Coker says UTSA will be rested and ready for Rice

“We need a little sunshine, I tell you,” Coker told reporters at his weekly news conference on campus. “But we need to create our own sunshine.”

After winning two of its first four, UTSA has lost two straight leading into a home date Saturday against the Rice Owls.

The latest setback came last weekend in West Virginia, where the Roadrunners were beaten 34-10 by the Marshall Thundering Herd.

“I tell you this, we got beat by a good football team,” Coker said. ” They’re good. There’s a reason they lead the league in offense … So let’s give them credit. Defensively, they had the extra week to prepare. They were rested.”

Marshall held UTSA to a season-low in points and total offense (254).

“They did an excellent job, scheme-wise,” Coker said. ” They tackled extremely well. They’re very athletic. Defensive ends had (two) batted balls. We batted one. We didn’t get the interception. They batted two and intercepted both of them. It’s one of those things that happen sometimes.”

Coker promised that his Roadrunners (2-4, 1-1 in the Conference USA West) would be prepared for the David Bailiff-coached Owls (3-2, 2-0).

“Like I told the players yesterday, I think we’re a little bit of a tired football team,” he said. “I think that’s probably my fault. I got to recognize that and get ’em rested. We’ll be rested for Rice and be ready to go.”